New Walkmen - "Brandy Alexander"

Ho-Hum...It sounds like a bad drunk rambling over boring music. This is coming from someone who begged for tickets outside of Brownies for one of their shows half a decade ago.

Posted by: Nylund at 05/12/06 3:56 PM | Reply
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thanks for the link, and the track! i agree with your (scott's) assessment of brandy alexander--it does sound like a hybrid from their two previous albums, but it doesn't go anywhere. i really enjoyed the other track, though--don't get me down.

i'm excited for the new album and their upcoming tour, and i was very happy to get a taste of what's in store. thanks again!

Posted by: vinnie at 05/12/06 4:11 PM | Reply
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I don't hear the combination of the previous two albums. In fact, from what I've heard (this track and Tennessee), it seems to me they've lost that beautiful chaotic racket/drone I enjoy so much on the previous albums. I'm not saying I don't like these songs, surely they'll grow on me in their own way, but they sound like The Walkmen trying to write Bob Dylan songs, not The Walkmen writing Walkmen songs.

Posted by: S dot Business at 05/12/06 5:36 PM | Reply
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And by "Tennessee" I meant "Louisiana".

Posted by: S dot Business at 05/12/06 5:38 PM | Reply
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I've only listened to about 3/4 of the album, and have been feeling similar to these comments. But i'm still trying to remain optimistic. My girlfriend first brought up the dylanesqueness of it all. Remember the brilliance of everyone who pretended...? I think what I noticed the most on the last two albums, especially A hundred miles off, is their new found seriousness. One of my favorite parts of the walkmen were how they kind of blended a quirkyness with that etheral/drone sound, with songs that would build layers upon layers before exploding into some beautful hypnotizing piano stomped climax. It was a perfect way to bridge between the Recoy's angsty yet optimistic lyrics and music tone with a more focused and experimental style when they formed the walkmen shortly after.

Posted by: Devin at 05/12/06 5:54 PM | Reply
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I was highly optimitic when I first heard "Louisiana," but after hearing the rest of the album I was very disappointed.

Posted by: Preston Craig at 05/12/06 6:52 PM | Reply
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I had the privelage of seeing them play the album live a few months ago, way before I heard it online. Leithauser came right out and said they were aiming for some more of a Dylan-esque sound. This album definitely seems more subdued than Bows. For me, the first time I heard Bows and Arrows, I was driving down I-71 doing about 85mph when the Rat came on. It was all too perfect. Since then, Bows has remained in high car-time circulation (especially when I have to drive on the highway). This album may just take a different context though. Perhaps it will be the 'winding down' music, or the sunny day-outside-with choice of beer-album.

Posted by: Corey at 05/12/06 7:09 PM | Reply
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Sounds like nothing special to me. Reminds me of The Strokes doing LSD quite frankly

Posted by: Dosis at 05/12/06 7:41 PM | Reply
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Play my Beatles memory game...

http://obt.lcsc.edu/pjacobs/Beatlesgame/beatlesgame.html

Posted by: John Lennon at 05/12/06 7:43 PM | Reply
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boring. derivitave. why do these guy always get a pass from pitchfork? they're dylan impersonators.

Posted by: joust at 05/12/06 8:08 PM | Reply
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Unfortunately it's their weakest album ever. Track one is super-cool with the trumpets, then the record takes a nose-dive. I've listened to it over and over and over, and it just gets worse.

Posted by: Scott at 05/12/06 8:10 PM | Reply
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The song is pretty good

http://www.musictimes.com.au

Posted by: Music Times at 05/12/06 8:14 PM | Reply
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hammy was already pegged w/ the bob dylan label...now this? what is this?

Posted by: madcap at 05/12/06 10:26 PM | Reply
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"I was highly optimitic when I first heard "Louisiana," but after hearing the rest of the album I was very disappointed."

i'm with this guy.

it's nothing close to bow + arrows. which was my favorite album that year.

Posted by: justin at 05/12/06 10:49 PM | Reply
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The album is quite the grower. One of my favorites of the year. 'All Hands and the Cook' is epic.

Posted by: Jeff at 05/12/06 11:30 PM | Reply
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eh, i still like it. at least as much as bows & arrows.

Posted by: jim at 05/13/06 1:15 AM | Reply
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I wish this new Walkmen had more pianol!

"Lost in Boston" is my favorite. I think it gets away with being so guitar driven. Many other songs on the album don't. "Danny's at the Wedding" is built on a riff from some Interpol song...any old Interpol song...

"Emma Get me a Lemon" sounded better live. The record version is harsh on my ears.

I think they should have added more instruments/tracks to everything song.

Posted by: shelSilverstein at 05/13/06 10:37 AM | Reply
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If I leaked this record on the internets and pitched it as the latest NME / Pitchdork commodity everyone would be taking a shit and saying how it's a "tuneful take on the melancholy maudlin rock of the Walkmen without the meandering instrumentation and lack of structure" , instead you have a bunch of people bumming because there's isn't a Rat part 2.

It's a grower, I like it a lot.

Posted by: kenny bloggins at 05/13/06 2:44 PM | Reply
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Brandy Alexander is a transvestite character in Chuck Palahniuk's 'Invisible Monsters', which he wrote before 'Fight Club' but couldn't get published because it was so violent and obscene and whatnot. In case you were curious.

Posted by: shane at 05/13/06 4:46 PM | Reply
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What is so bad about doing some twist-ups with Dylanesque lyrical framework? Excuse me, next time you want to criticize a band for 'sounding' like someone else, put a little more thought into it. Yes, there are subtle elements of Dylan with in the lyrics, but that is where the comparisons must stop! Anyway, there are many more blatant rip offs going on now. Most of who Pitchfork loves right now either rips off Gang of Four or the Talking Heads without even trying to twist it a little. I wish Pitchforkmedia didnt exist sometimes so fucking hipsters wouldnt be so insecure about who they should be liking this week.

Posted by: Corey at 05/13/06 5:13 PM | Reply
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Posted by: Kimberly at 05/13/06 8:55 PM | Reply
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Posted by: David at 05/13/06 8:56 PM | Reply
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Posted by: Laura at 05/13/06 9:04 PM | Reply
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you need to post the new french kicks!

Posted by: mia at 05/14/06 2:20 AM | Reply
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Thanks for this post! we have a wee radio show dedicated to the music posted on blogs. as a result of this post we played "brandy alexander"

on our show.

Thanks!!

Robin (DIY Chart show)

Posted by: Robin at 05/15/06 7:36 AM | Reply
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The Walkmen have made one good album.

This ain't it.

And Bows + Arrows ain't it, either.

Posted by: R. at 05/15/06 5:21 PM | Reply
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Yeah, I don't understand what the problem is. It may not have the immediacy of "The Rat" or "Little House of Savages," but I think this album is better than their debut, which was good, but suffered from a bit of same-y-ness after a while. Bows + Arrows is hard to top, but after a half dozen listens, A Hundred Miles Off has grown on me quite a bit.

Posted by: Jeff at 05/15/06 6:18 PM | Reply
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i can only assume that the fella above who claims that this song doesn't have a similar vibe MUSICALLY (leaving aside the lyrics for now) to mr dylan simply hasn't heard the basement tapes.

...it's a nice sound, though. i don't love this song but i'm curious to hear the record and wish them the best. they are one of the few bands of the 21st to swim against the tide.

Posted by: bobby d at 05/15/06 7:16 PM | Reply
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If you don't like this album after a few listens, you do not appreciate good music. Forget about comparing it to the previous albums. Enjoy it for what it is. A damn fine effort.

Posted by: james at 05/16/06 12:55 PM | Reply
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brandy alexander is a drink you fool. and this sounds nothing like bob dylan. what dylan are you talking about?

Posted by: john at 05/17/06 12:42 AM | Reply
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"brandy alexander is a drink you fool."
Ha-ha! You cracked me up on this dreary morning John :)

Posted by: Gwenn at 05/30/07 9:43 AM | Reply
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"brandy alexander is a drink you fool."
Ha-ha! You cracked me up on this dreary morning John :)

Posted by: Gwenn at 05/30/07 9:43 AM | Reply
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